Difficulty: HardHigh Tatrashigh tatraschainsexposurepanorama

Świnica

2301 m a.s.l. · trail green / red · start: Kuźnice

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High-altitude conditionsBulletin as of 17 października 2026
Official TPN bulletin

Snow and ice reported in upper Tatras. Crampons, ice axe, helmet and winter mountaineering experience required.

Bulletin details

Warunki do uprawiania turystyki w Tatrach Wysokich są bardzo trudne.

PolecanyOn foot from Kuźnice via Kasprowy

Wysokość
2301 m a.s.l.
Dystans
18.6 km
Czas przejścia
9 h 32 min
Suma podejść
1586 m
Start
Kuźnice
Meta
Kuźnice

Czas i dystans dla całej wycieczki, z powrotem do startu.

Tempo

9 h 32 minSzacunek od czasu z opisu, bez kolejek i postojów.

Warianty wejścia

Polecany jest na tej stronie. Inny start ma osobną kartę — własny opis i mapę.

Warianty wejścia
WariantStartCzas przejściaŁańcuchyKolor szlaku
On foot from Kuźnice via KasprowyPolecany

Green to Kasprowy, red to the summit and back. The figures at the top of the page show this loop.

Kuźnice9 h 32 minTakWrótka. A queue on the chains does not shorten the exposure.
  • green
  • red
Cable car to Kasprowy

Saves the legs, not Wrótka. Yellow down to Gąsienicowa. Without an online ticket at 11:00 you will not get on.

Kuźnice (PKL)5 hTakThe same chains from Świnicka Pass.
  • red
  • yellow
Via Zawrat

New Zawrat plus the ridge to Świnica. Two chain sections. A separate page: Zawrat.

Zobacz ten szlak →		Kuźnice9 hTakThe Zawrat gully first, then the ridge.
  • blue
  • red

Polecany

On foot from Kuźnice via Kasprowy

Green to Kasprowy, red to the summit and back. The figures at the top of the page show this loop.

Mapa i profil trasy

On foot from Kuźnice via Kasprowy

Profil wysokościowy trasy

Wykres podejść wygenerowany ze śladu GPX. Przesuń kursor lub palec po wykresie, aby sprawdzić profil podejścia i punkty kulminacyjne.

GPX · 18.06 km
Punkt kulminacyjny
2301m n.p.m.
przy 9.36 km
Najniższy punkt
1015m n.p.m.
Podejścia (suma)
+1621m
Zejścia (suma)
-1621m
Dystans profilu
18.06km
500 m1000 m1500 m2000 m2500 m0 km5 km10 km15 km18.06 km1987 m2076 m1560 m🏔️ 2301 m

Ślad GPX do nawigacji

Wgraj trasę do zegarka sportowego (Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Apple Watch) lub aplikacji nawigacyjnej (Mapy.cz, Komoot, Locus Map, Strava) i nawiguj po szlaku w trybie offline bez zasięgu.

Pobierz ślad GPX (.gpx)
Kompatybilność:GarminCorosSuuntoApple WatchMapy.czKomootStrava
Jak wgrać plik GPX?
  1. Kliknij przycisk „Pobierz ślad GPX”, aby zapisać plik .gpx na telefonie lub komputerze.
  2. Otwórz plik w aplikacji Garmin Connect, Coros, Suunto, Mapy.cz, Komoot lub wyślij na zegarek GPS.
  3. Zapisz trasę w trybie offline, aby w Tatrach nawigować pewnie i bez obaw o brak zasięgu sieci komórkowej.

Świnica (2,301 m above sea level) is the mighty, two-peaked “Queen” of this part of the Tatras. Its distinctive, menacing massif dominates Hala Gąsienicowa and the Valley of Five Lakes. Thanks to its central location (at the junction of three main ridges), it offers a panorama that, according to many, is even better than the one from Rysy.

💡 In a nutshell – Świnica in a nutshell:

  1. For whom: For hikers who have already done Giewont and Kościelec. There are a lot of chains here (the famous “Wrótka”) and huge exposure.
  2. Important: The trail from Zawrat to Świnica is one-way. If you climb from Kasprowy, you must return the same way to Świnicka Pass.
  3. Pro Tip: Taking the cable car to Kasprowy saves 3 hours of approach, but does not reduce the difficulty of Świnica itself. The chains and precipices still await you.
  4. Dangers: Świnica is a magnet for lightning. At the slightest risk of a storm – do not go onto the chains.

The proximity of the cable car to Kasprowy Wierch means that this mountain tempts many tourists. Remember, however: this is not a walk. It is a full-fledged high-mountain expedition, highly exposed (precipitous) and bristling with chains. It is an excellent test before tackling Orla Perć.

Trail description: From Kasprowy Wierch

The most popular (and shortest) route to the summit is the red trail from Kasprowy Wierch.

Stage 1: Ridge walk to Świnicka Pass

You can walk up to Kasprowy Wierch (green trail, about 2.5 h) or take the cable car, saving your strength. From Kasprowy, we head east on the red trail. Initially, it is a very pleasant, wide, and scenic ridge walk. We pass Beskid and Skrajna Turnia, slowly gaining altitude, until we reach Świnicka Pass (2,051 m a.s.l.). Here the idyll ends.

Stage 2: Climbing and Chains (Wrótka)

Beyond the pass, the trail climbs sharply and enters raw, rocky terrain. The chains begin.

  • Żleb Blata: The route leads up a steep, rocky gully, and then traverses the slopes. In places, it is very narrow.
  • Exposure: In many places, we walk along narrow rock ledges, with hundreds of metres of precipice dropping down towards the Gąsienicowa Valley beneath our feet. A firm grip on the chains and a lack of fear of heights are required.
  • A key spot is the so-called “Wrótka” – a narrow rock notch where you have to pull yourself up hard and where bottlenecks often form.

Stage 3: Summit attack

The final section is a steep climb over rocks secured with a dense network of chains. It leads to the main (higher) summit of Świnica. There is not much space on top, but the view of nearby Kościelec, Kozi Wierch, and Orla Perć from here is iconic.

Important change: One-way traffic!

Since 2021, TPN has introduced a very important safety change: The red trail between Świnica and Zawrat pass is ONE-WAY. You can ONLY walk it from Zawrat towards Świnica.

What does this mean in practice? If you climb Świnica from Kasprowy Wierch, you cannot descend to Zawrat! You must return the same way (down the chains) to Świnicka Pass and from there take the black trail down to Hala Gąsienicowa (to Murowaniec).

Warnings (Read this!)

  • Deadly storms: Świnica is a massive magnet for lightning. If you see storm clouds building up, turn back immediately. Getting stuck on the chains during a storm is a deadly threat. You are on metal chains at an altitude of 2,300 metres!
  • Slippery rock: The granite on Świnica can be very slippery after rain. Combined with the huge exposure, even a minor slip can be tragic.
  • Crowds and bottlenecks: On sunny summer weekends, bottlenecks form on the chains. People often freeze out of fear. You have to arm yourself with patience and watch out for falling stones knocked down by tourists above.

Other ways up and logistics

On foot from Kuźnice via Kasprowy is the simplest logistics (this is what the figures at the top of the page show). But you also have other options:

  • PKL cable car to Kasprowy: Saves 1,000 metres of approach, but does not shorten Wrótka and the exposure. Buy your ticket in advance online!
  • Via Zawrat: First the steep Zawrat gully, then the ridge to Świnica (following the one-way traffic). These are two difficult chain sections. Do not add Świnica “since we are already here” if just climbing Zawrat exhausted you.

Parking: You cannot drive a private car into Kuźnice. Leave your car at the John Paul II Roundabout and take a minibus. You can buy a TPN ticket at the trail or online.

Who this is absolutely NOT for?

Not for someone who queued on Giewont and thinks Świnica is “the same, only a bit higher”. Not for someone in flip-flops who took the cable car to Kasprowy and decided to “walk a bit further”. If the drop on Beskid (the first peak after Kasprowy) paralyzes you, turn back. Wrótka is not a training hall for overcoming a fear of heights.

Getting there, parking & buses

Trailhead logistics – reach the start smoothly without parking hassle.

Trailhead:Kuźnice

Parking & car access

No private car access – bus or walk only

Car parks near Rondo Jana Pawła II / Bronisława Czecha St.

Parking fee: 30–45 PLN / day (private & municipal car parks near Rondo JP2)

From Rondo Jana Pawła II, private cars are strictly prohibited. Reach Kuźnice only by local bus (5 min) or on foot via Aleja Przewodników Tatrzańskich (20–25 min).

Navigate to parking (Google Maps)

Bus & transit access

Buses from Main Station & Rondo JP2 to Kuźnice

Route & bus stop: Main Station (Transport Hub) ➔ Rondo Jana Pawła II ➔ Kuźnice (cableway station)

Fare: ~5–6 PLN (cash payment to driver)

Buses shuttle every 5–10 minutes from dawn till dusk. Prepare exact change.

Local buses and transit help bypass morning traffic and parking hassles.

Transport guide in the Tips section

Complete guide to Tatra car parks, buses, and TPN reservations.

Read the guide in Tips

Tool

🎒 What to pack? Interactive checklist

Check off items as you pack, switch between summer/winter and clear the list before your next trip. Progress is saved automatically.

Open checklist →

What you will see

  • Views of Kościelec and Orla Perć
  • Zawrat Pass
  • Option to take the cable car (start)
  • The Valley of Five Lakes from above

Questions

Is Świnica harder than Giewont?

Yes, definitely. It is higher, more exposed and has more difficult chain sections.

Can you take the cable car to Kasprowy and then hike to Świnica?

Yes. It shortens the walk, not the chains. Buy the PKL ticket online. You still queue at Wrótka.

Which variant should I take?

On foot from Kuźnice via Kasprowy is what the figures at the top of the page show. The cable car saves 1,000 metres. Add Zawrat only if you already know the gully from Gąsienicowa.

How high is Świnica?

Świnica is 2301 m above sea level.

Świnica: are there chains on the route?

Yes. Wrótka. A queue on the chains does not shorten the exposure.

Świnica: how long does it take?

Start: Kuźnice, finish in the same place. The whole route is 18.6 km and takes 9 h 32 min of walking without breaks, with about 1586 m of ascent. Add time for rests and photos.

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Next trail in this area

Planning your next hike? From the same starting point and area, we recommend:

📍 Kuźnice
No photo
#high tatras#orla perć#chains

Zawrat Pass (from Hala Gąsienicowa)

Zawrat Pass (2158 m) from Kuźnice via Hala Gąsienicowa: 19.9 km, 8 h 34 min, chains in the gully and snow into summer. The easier Five Lakes side is separate.

⏱️ 8 h 34 min📏 19.9 km🎯 difficult
View trail

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Read also

Plan your trip

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Before you head to the mountains

  1. Check the weather forecast, mountain weather changes dynamically
  2. Match the trail to your abilities, don't overestimate your strength
  3. Take appropriate equipment: comfortable hiking boots, rain jacket, warm clothing, map, charged phone, first aid kit, power bank, food and water
  4. Inform someone about your plans, provide the route and expected return time
  5. Save the emergency number GOPR/TOPR, 601 100 300 or 985
  6. Buy a ticket to the Tatra National Park